Parliament has officially adopted a motion to reconstitute Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, paving the way for the reinstatement of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin as a member of the delegation.
The move follows the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei’s rejection of her nomination to replace Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin, over concerns of the lack of consultation and alleged procedural irregularities in the selection process.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, had referred Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Privileges Committee following a petition by the former Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who accused him of defying a parliamentary resolution that removed him from Ghana’s ECOWAS delegation.
Reports indicate that the ECOWAS Parliament declined to swear in Ghana’s reconstituted delegation after Afenyo-Markin, who currently serves as the Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, appeared at proceedings in Port Harcourt despite being replaced.
The matter was eventually resolved after Ghana threatened to withdraw entirely from the regional legislative body.
The representation of Members of Parliament of Ghana to the Community Parliament of ECOWAS to be reconstituted includes:
i. Hon George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, Leader
ii. Hon Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, Member
iii. Hon Laadi Ayii Ayamba (Hajia), Member
iv. Hon Eric Afful, Member
v. Hon Dominic Napare, Member
vi. Hon Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin (Osahen), Member
vii. Hon Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Member
viii. Hon Bryan Acheampong (Dr), Member
ix. Hon Millicent Yeboah Amankwah, Observer